Safety Plans in Place for UK's Match Against Louisville

Safety Plans in Place for UK's Match Against Louisville

Two reasons to celebrate are also two reasons for heightened security around UK's campus: the Cats are back in the Sweet 16, and they're battling against Louisville.

Two reasons to celebrate are also two reasons for heightened security around UK's campus: the Cats are back in the Sweet 16, and they're battling against Louisville.

Police said the riots and fires that broke out on South Limestone two years ago after UK's national championship win was a valuable lesson to prepare them for this weekend.

"We learn every time [of] things that we need to add, things that we need to subtract," Commander Ken Armstrong, of Lexington's Police Bureau of Special Operations, explained. "It's a very organic process."

Officials said they'll have extra patrol members out to not only handle game reactions that become criminal, but other calls as well.

Police have been working closely with community partners and checking in with businesses to make sure they are prepared for the potential rowdy crowds.

To prevent couch fires, the streets and roads department are picking up items that are sitting outside right now that people might be tempted to light on fire.

They warn that if anyone tries to cause trouble, it could be a felony.

We should act like we've been there before, because we have," Armstrong said. "We are the University of Kentucky. We've won eight national championships. We ought to act like it when it comes time."

Plans are also in the works for Sunday's Elite Eight game, which will be the Cat's next step if they beat Louisville on Friday.